Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied threatening Northerners with suffering between January and May if President Bola Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election.
Akpabio described the statement attributed to him as a “complete fabrication” and challenged those circulating the claim to provide evidence showing when and where he allegedly made the remark.
The Senate President made his position known in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh.
The statement, titled “Desperate and Dangerous Lie: Produce the Evidence or Withdraw It,” said there was no credible record linking Akpabio to the alleged statement.
Akpabio Demands Evidence of Alleged Statement
According to Akpabio, there is no video, audio recording, speech, interview, press release, transcript or credible news report in which he made the alleged comment about Northerners suffering if Tinubu fails to win the 2027 election.
He also dismissed a photograph containing the alleged quotation as insufficient evidence, describing it as “an allegation wearing typography.”
Akpabio challenged the alleged sponsor of the material, identified as Engr. Ibrahim Umar Ammar, to produce the original evidence.
He said Ammar was identified on his verified Facebook profile as being associated with the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and Coordinator of ADC-NYAF in Kano State.
“Produce the original and unedited video or audio recording showing precisely where, when and before whom Senator Akpabio made the alleged statement. Name the occasion.
Give the date and venue. Provide the complete recording, not a conveniently edited fragment,” Akpabio said.
Senate President Warns Against Ethnic Incitement
The Senate President also urged individuals who reposted the alleged statement to identify its original source and provide the publication where it first appeared.
Akpabio acknowledged that political opposition was legitimate but warned against the use of what he described as fabricated statements to inflame ethnic sentiments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said the 2027 presidential contest should be centred on the records, policies, achievements, failures and competing visions of political parties and candidates rather than unverified claims capable of threatening national unity.
“This is not legitimate political opposition. It is calculated incitement designed to manufacture fear, resentment and hostility between Northern Nigerians and a national leader from the South,” he said.
Akpabio Cites Political Relationships With NorthernersAkpabio further argued that his political relationships, appointments and legislative activities contradict claims that he is hostile towards people from Northern Nigeria.
He pointed to the presence of Northerners in his office and highlighted his working relationship with Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin of Kano State as evidence of political cooperation across regional lines.
The Senate President also cited legislation establishing the North-West Development Commission and North-Central Development Commission, as well as federal institutions in Kano and Zamfara states.
Akpabio said these initiatives demonstrate his commitment to development across Nigeria and not to any particular region.
The controversy comes as political activities and discussions around the 2027 Nigerian presidential election intensify, with political parties and prospective candidates positioning themselves ahead of the election.
